initial commit of ebook 23223HEADmain

1 files changed, 1525 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/23223-0.txt b/23223-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a913a00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/23223-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,1525 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Good Blood, by Ernst Von Wildenbruch
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Good Blood
+
+Author: Ernst Von Wildenbruch
+
+Release Date: October 27, 2007 [EBook #23223]
+Last Updated: November 20, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOOD BLOOD ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+
+GOOD BLOOD
+
+By Ernst Von Wildenbruch
+
+
+Is it possible that there are people quite free from curiosity? People
+who can pass on behind any one they see gazing earnestly and intently
+toward some unknown object without feeling an impulse to stop, to follow
+the direction of the other’s eyes, to discover what odd thing he may be
+looking at?
+
+For my part, if I were asked whether I counted myself among that class
+of cold natures, I do not know that I could honestly answer “Yes.” At
+any rate, there was once a moment in my life when I was not only goaded
+by such an impulse, but when I actually yielded to the temptation and
+fell into the way of any mere curiosity seeker.
+
+The place in which it happened was in a wine-room in the old town where
+as Referendar {1} I was practising at court; the time was an afternoon
+in summer.
+
+     1 The title conferred in Prussia on the candidate who has
+     passed the first of the two examinations held before
+     appointment as judge.
+
+The wine-room, situated on the ground floor of a house in the great
+square which from the window one could look out upon in every direction,
+was at this hour nearly empty. To me this was all the more agreeable,
+for I have ever been a lover of solitude.
+
+There were three of us: the fat waiter, who from a gray, dust-covered
+bottle was pouring out the golden-yellow Muscatel into my glass; then
+myself, who sat in a nook of the cozy, odd-cornered room and smacked the
+fragrant wine; and still another guest, who had taken his place at one
+of the two open windows, a tumbler of red wine lying before him on
+the window-sill, in his mouth a long brown, smoke-seasoned meerschaum
+cigar-holder, out of which he wrapped himself in a cloud of smoke.
+
+This man, who had a long gray beard framing a ruddy face tinged bluish
+in places, was an old retired colonel, whom every one in town knew. He
+belonged to that colony of the Superannuated who had settled down in
+this pleasant place to wearily drag out the end of their days.
+
+Toward noon they could be seen strolling deliberately in groups of twos
+or threes down the street, shortly to disappear into the wine-room,
+where between twelve and one they assembled at the round table to
+gossip. On the table stood pint bottles of sourish Moselle, over the
+table floated a thick mist of cigar smoke, and through the mist came
+voices, peevish, grating, discussing the latest event in the Army
+Register.
+
+The old colonel, too, was a regular patron of the wine-room, but he
+never came at the hour of general assembly, but later, in the afternoon.
+
+He was a man of lonely disposition. Rarely was he seen in the company of
+others; his lodging was in the suburbs on the other side of the river,
+and from the window of his room one could look out over a wide stretch
+of meadow land which the river regularly inundated every spring, when it
+overflowed its banks. Many a time have I passed by his lodging and seen
+him standing at the window, his bloodshot eyes, rimmed with deep bags
+beneath, thoughtfully gazing out toward the gray waste of water beyond
+the embankment.
+
+And now he sits there at the window of the wine-room and gazes out upon
+the square, over whose surface the wind sweeps along in a whirl of dust.
+
+But what is he looking at, I wonder?
+
+The fat waiter, bored to death over his two silent fees, had his
+attention already drawn toward the colonel’s behavior; he stood in the
+middle of the room, his hands clasped behind the tail of his coat, and
+was gazing through the other window out on to the square.
+
+Something must surely be going on there.
+
+Quietly as possible, so as not to break the interest of the other two,
+I rose from my seat. But there was really nothing to be seen. The square
+was nearly empty; only in the center, under the great street lamps,
+I noticed two schoolboys who were facing each other in threatening
+attitude.
+
+Could it be this, then, that so fixed the attention of the old colonel?
+
+But having once begun, such is the nature of man, I could not withdraw
+my attention before knowing whether this threat of a fight would really
+swell to an outbreak. The boys had just come from afternoon school
+session; they were still carrying their portfolios under their arms.
+They may have been of equal age, but one was a head taller than the
+other. This bigger one, a tall, lank, overgrown schoolboy, with an
+unpleasant look in his freckled face, was blocking the way of the other,
+who was short and plump and had an honest face with chubby, red cheeks.
+The-bigger boy seemed to be nagging at the other with taunting words,
+but by reason of the distance it was impossible to understand what he
+said. After this had been going on for a while, the quarrel suddenly
+broke out. Both boys dropped their portfolios to the ground; the little
+chubby boy lowered his head, as though to ram his opponent in the
+stomach, and then rushed at him.
+
+“The big fellow there will soon have him in a fix,” now said the
+colonel, who was earnestly following the movements of the enemy, and who
+seemed not to approve the tactics of the little chubby boy.
+
+For whom he intended these words it would be hard to say; he spoke them
+to himself without addressing any one of us.
+
+His prediction was at once justified.
+
+The big fellow dodged the onset of his enemy; the next moment he had
+his left arm squeezed around the other’s neck, so that the head of the
+latter was caught as in a noose; he had him, as they say, “in chancery.”
+ With his right hand he gripped the right fist of his opponent, who was
+trying to pummel him with it on the back, and when he had regularly
+trapped him and brought him completely under his power he dragged him
+again and again round and about the lamp-post.
+
+“Clumsy lad,” muttered the old colonel, continuing his monologue,
+“always to let himself get caught in that way.” He was plainly
+disappointed in the little chubby boy, and could not endure the long,
+lanky one.
+
+“They fight that way every day,” he explained, noticing the waiter, to
+whom he seemed willing to account for his interest in the matter.
+
+Then he turned his face again toward the window. “Wonder if the little
+one will turn up.”
+
+Scarcely had he mumbled this to the end when there came rushing from the
+city park that adjoined the square a slender little slip of a lad.
+
+“There he is,” said the old colonel. He swallowed a mouthful of red wine
+and stroked his beard.
+
+The little fellow, who one felt sure by the resemblance must be a
+brother of little Chubby Cheeks, but a finer and improved edition, ran
+up, lifted high his portfolio with both hands and gave Long-Shanks a
+blow on the back that resounded away over to where we sat.
+
+“Bravo!” said the old colonel.
+
+Long-Shanks kicked like a horse at this new assailant. Little-Boy
+dodged, and the same instant Long-Shanks got a second blow, this time on
+the head, that sent his cap flying.
+
+Nevertheless, he still kept his prisoner held in the trap and fast by
+the right hand.
+
+Then Little-Boy tore open his portfolio with frantic haste; from the
+portfolio he drew out a pen-case, from the pen-case a pen-holder, which
+all at once he began jabbing into the hand of Long-Shanks that held his
+brother prisoner.
+
+“Clever lad!” said the colonel to himself. “Fine lad!” His red eyes
+fairly gleamed with delight.
+
+The affair was now becoming too hot for Long-Shanks. Stung with pain,
+he released his first opponent to throw himself with furious blows on
+Little-Boy.
+
+But the latter was now transformed into a veritable little wild-cat.
+His hat had flown from his head, his curly hair clung round his fine,
+deathly pale face, out of which his eyes fairly burned; the portfolio
+with all its contents was lying on the ground--over cap, portfolio and
+all he went for the anatomy of Long-Shanks.
+
+He threw himself on the enemy, and with little, clenched, convulsive
+fists belabored him so on stomach and body that Long-Shanks began to
+retreat step by step.
+
+In the mean while Chubby-Cheeks had recovered himself, snatched up
+his portfolio, and with blow after blow on the sides and back of his
+oppressor, pushed into the fight again.
+
+Long-Shanks at last threw off Little-Boy, took two steps backward and
+picked up his cap from the ground. The fight was drawing to a finish.
+Panting and out of breath, the three stood looking at one another.
+Long-Shanks showed an ugly grin, behind which he tried to hide the shame
+of his defeat; Little-Boy, with fists still doubled, followed every
+one of his movements with blazing eyes, ready at a moment to spring once
+more upon the enemy should the latter renew the attack. But Long-Shanks
+did not advance again; he had had enough. Sneering and shrugging his
+shoulders, he kept drawing away farther and farther until he had reached
+a safe distance, when he began to call out names. The two brothers now
+collected the belongings of Little-Boy that lay scattered about, stuffed
+them into the portfolio, picked up their caps, whipped the dust from
+them, and turned home ward. On the way they passed the windows of our
+wine-room. I could now plainly see the brave little fellow; he was a
+thoroughbred, every inch of him. Long-Shanks was again approaching
+from behind and bawling after them through the length of the square.
+Little-Boy shrugged his shoulders with fine contempt. “You great,
+cowardly bully,” said he, and stopping suddenly, turned right about and
+faced the enemy. At once Long-Shanks stopped too, and the two brothers
+broke out into derisive laughter.
+
+They were now standing directly under the window at which the old
+colonel was sitting. He leaned out.
+
+“Bravo, youngster!” said he, “you are a plucky one--here--drink this on
+the strength of it.” He had taken up the tumbler and was holding it
+out of the window toward Little-Boy. The boy looked up, surprised, then
+whispered something to his older brother, gave him his portfolio to
+hold, and gripped the big glass in his two little hands.
+
+When he had drunk all he wanted, with one hand he held the glass by
+its stem, with the other took back the portfolio from his brother, and
+without asking by your leave, handed the glass over to him.
+
+Chubby-Cheeks then took a long swallow.
+
+“The blessed boy,” muttered the colonel to himself. “I give him my
+glass, and without further ado he makes his _cher frère_ drink out of
+it, too.”
+
+But by the face of Little-Boy, who now reached the glass up to the
+window again, one could see that he had only been doing something which
+seemed to him quite a matter of course.
+
+“Do you like the bouquet?” asked the old colonel.
+
+“Yes, thanks, very well,” said the boy, who snatched at his cap
+politely, and went on his way with his brother.
+
+The colonel looked after them until they had turned a corner of the
+street and disappeared from his sight.
+
+“With boys like that”--then said the colonel, returning to his
+soliloquizing--“it is often an odd thing about boys like that.”
+
+“That they should fight so in the public streets!” said the fat waiter
+with disapproval, still standing at his post. “One wonders how the
+teacher can allow it; and they seem to belong to good family, too.”
+
+“It isn’t that that does the harm,” grunted the old colonel. “Young
+people must have their liberty, teachers can’t always be keeping an eye
+on them. Boys all fight--must fight.”
+
+He rose heavily from his place so that the chair creaked beneath him,
+scraped the cigar butt out of its holder into the ash-tray, and walked
+stiffly over to the wall where his hat hung on a nail. At the same time
+he continued his reverie.
+
+“In young blood like that nature will show itself--everything, just as
+it _really_ is--afterward, when older, things look all much alike--then
+one is able to study more carefully--young blood like that.”
+
+The waiter had put his hat into his hand; the colonel took up his
+tumbler again, in which there were still a few drops of the red wine.
+
+“God bless the youngsters,” he murmured; “they have hardly left me a
+drop.” He looked, almost sadly, into what remained of the wine, then set
+the tumbler down again without drinking.
+
+The fat waiter became suddenly alive.
+
+“Will the colonel, perhaps, have another glass?”
+
+The old man, standing at the table, had opened the wine list and was
+mumbling to himself.
+
+“H’m--another sort, maybe--but one can’t buy it by the glass--only by
+the bottle--somewhat too much.”
+
+Slowly his gaze wandered over in my direction; I read in his eyes the
+dumb inquiry a man sometimes throws his neighbor when he wants to go
+halves with him over a bottle of wine.
+
+“If the colonel will allow me,” I said, “it would give me great pleasure
+to drink a bottle with him.”
+
+He agreed, plainly not unwilling. He pushed the wine list over to
+the waiter, lining with his finger the sort he wanted, and said in a
+commanding tone: “A bottle of that.”
+
+“That is a brand I know well,” he said, turning to me, while he threw
+his hat on a chair and sat down at one of the tables--“it’s good blood.”
+
+I had placed myself at a table with him so that I could see his face in
+profile. His look was again turned toward the window, and as he gazed
+past me up into the heavens, the glow of the sunset was reflected in his
+eyes.
+
+It was the first time I had seen him at such close quarters.
+
+By the look of his eyes he was lost in dreams, and as his hand played
+mechanically through his long beard, there seemed to rise before him out
+of the flood of the years that had rushed behind, forms that were once
+young when he was young, and which were now--who can say where? The
+bottle which the waiter had brought and placed at a table before us
+contained a rare wine. An old Bordeaux, brown and oily, poured into our
+glasses. I recalled the expression which the old man had used a short
+time before.
+
+“I must admit, colonel, that this is indeed ‘good blood.’”
+
+His flushed eyes came slowly back from the far away, turned upon me, and
+remained fixed there, as if he would say: “What do you know about it?”
+
+He took a deep draft, wiped his beard, and gazed at his glass.
+“Strange,” he said, “when a man grows old--he recalls the earliest days
+far easier than those that come later.”
+
+I was silent; I felt that I ought neither to speak nor question. When
+a man is lost in recollections he is making poetry, and one must not
+question a poet.
+
+A long pause followed. “What an assortment of people one has to meet
+with,” he continued. “When one thinks of it--many who live on and on--it
+were often better they did not live at all--and others have to go so
+much too early.” He passed the palm of his hand over the surface of the
+table. “Beneath that lies much.”
+
+It seemed as if the table had become to him as the surface of the earth,
+and that he was thinking of those lying beneath the ground.
+
+“Had to keep thinking of this a little while ago”--his voice sounded
+hollow--“when I saw that little fellow. With a boy like that nature
+comes right out, fairly gushes out--thick as your arm. You can see blood
+in it. Pity, though, that good blood flows so freely--more freely than
+the other. I once knew a little chap like that.”
+
+And there it was.
+
+The waiter had seated himself in a back corner of the room; I kept
+perfectly quiet; the heavy voice of the old colonel went laboring
+through the stillness of the room like a gust of wind that precedes a
+storm or some serious outbreak in nature.
+
+His eyes turned toward me as if to search me, whether I could bear to
+listen. He did not ask, I did not speak, but I looked at him, and my
+look eagerly replied: “Go on.”
+
+But not yet did he begin; first he drew from the breast pocket of his
+coat a large cigar-case of hard, brown leather, took out a cigar and
+slowly lighted it.
+
+“You know Berlin, of course,” said he, as he blew out the match and
+puffed the first cloud of smoke over the table. “No doubt you have
+traveled before this on the street railway--”
+
+“Oh, yes; often.”
+
+“H’m--well, then, as you go along behind the New Friedrich Street from
+Alexander Square to the Jannowiz Bridge, there stands there on the
+right-hand side in new Friedrich Street, a great ugly old building; it
+is the old military school.”
+
+I nodded.
+
+“The new one over there in Lichterfelde I do not know, but the old one,
+that I do know--yes--h’m--was even a cadet there in my time--yes--that
+one I do know.”
+
+This repetition of words gave me the feeling that he knew not only the
+house, but probably many an event that had taken place in it.
+
+“As you come from Alexander Square,” he continued, “there first comes
+a court with trees. Now grass grows in the court; in my time it was not
+so, for the drills took place there and the cadets went walking there
+during the hours of recreation. After that comes the great main building
+that encloses a square court, which is called the ‘Karreehof,’ and
+there, too, the cadets used to walk. Passing by from the outside, you
+can’t see into the court.”
+
+I nodded again in confirmation.
+
+“And then comes still a third court; it is smaller, and on it stands
+a house. Don’t know what it is used for now; at that time it was the
+infirmary. You can still see there the roof of the gymnasium as you pass
+by; then next to the infirmary was the principal outdoor gymnasium. In
+it was a jumping ditch and a climbing apparatus and every other possible
+thing--now it has all gone. From the infirmary a door led out into the
+gymnasium, but it was always kept locked. When one wanted to go into the
+infirmary, one had to cross the court and enter in front. The door
+then, as I said, was always locked; that is, it was opened only on some
+special occasion, and that, indeed, was always a very mournful occasion.
+For behind the door was the mortuary, and when a cadet died he was laid
+therein, and the door remained open until the other cadets had filed by,
+and looked at him once more--and he was then taken out--yes--h’m.”
+
+A long pause followed.
+
+“Concerning the new house over there in Lichterfelde,” continued the old
+colonel in* a somewhat disparaging tone, “I know nothing, as I said, but
+have heard that it is become a big affair with a great number of
+cadets. Here in New Friedrich Street there were not so many, only four
+companies, and they divided themselves into two classes: Sekundaner
+and Primaner, and to these two were added the Selektaner, or special
+students, who afterward entered the army as officers, and who were
+nicknamed ‘The Onions,’ because they had authority over the others and
+were barely tolerated in consequence.
+
+“Now in the company to which I belonged--it was the fourth--there
+were two brothers who sat together in the same class with me, the
+Sekun-daner. Their name is of no consequence--but--well, they were
+called, then, von L; the older of the two was called by the superiors
+L No. I, and the smaller, who was a year and a half younger than the
+other, L No. II. Among the cadets, however, they were called Big and
+Little L. Little L, indeed--h’m--”
+
+He moved in his chair, his eyes gazed out into vacancy. It appeared that
+he had reached the subject of his reveries.
+
+“Such a contrast between brothers I have never seen,” he continued,
+blowing a thick cloud from his meerschaum pipe. “Big L was a strapping
+fellow, with clumsy arms and legs and a big fat head; [1] Little L was like
+a willow switch, so slender and supple. He had a small, fine head, and
+light, wavy hair that curled of itself, and a delicate nose like a young
+eagle’s, but above all--he was a lad--”
+
+     1 “Die Bollen,” a term of dislike among the Berlin
+     cadets.
+
+The old colonel drew a deep sigh. “Now you must not think that all
+this was a matter of indifference to the cadets; on the contrary. The
+brothers had scarcely entered the Berlin Cadet. School from the
+preparatory school (they came from the one at Wahlstatt, I believe) when
+their status was at once fixed: Big L was neglected, and Little L was
+the universal favorite.
+
+“Now with such boys it is an odd thing: the big and the strong, they are
+the leaders, and on whomsoever these bestow their favor, with that boy
+all goes well. It also procures for him respect from the others, and no
+one ventures lightly to attack him. Such boys--here again nature stands
+right out--much as it is with the animals, before the biggest and
+strongest all the rest must crouch.”
+
+Fresh, vigorous puffs from the meerschaum accompanied these words.
+
+“When the cadets came down at recreation time those who were good
+friends together met and would go walking arm in arm around the
+‘Karreehof and toward the court where the trees stood, and so it was
+always until the trumpet sounded for return to work.
+
+“Big L--well--he attached himself just wherever he could find
+attachment, and stalked sullenly ahead by himself--Little L, on the
+contrary, almost before he could reach the court was seized under the
+arm by two or three big fellows and compelled to walk with them. And
+they were Primaners at that. For ordinarily, you must know, it never
+occurred to a Primaner to go with a ‘Knapsack,’ or Plebe, from the
+Sekunda; it was far beneath his dignity; but with Little L it was
+different, there an exception was made. And yet he was no less loved by
+the Sekundaner than by the Primaner. One could see that in class, where
+we Sekundaner boys, you know, were by ourselves. In class we were ranged
+according to alphabet, so that the two L’s sat together very nearly in
+the centre.
+
+“In their lessons they stood pretty nearly even. Big L had a good head
+for mathematics; in other things he was not of much account, but in
+mathematics he was, as you might say, a “shark,” and Little L, who was
+not strong in mathematics, used to “crib” from his brother. In all other
+respects Little L was ahead of his older brother, and in fact one of the
+best in his class. And right here appeared the difference between the
+brothers; Big L kept his knowledge to himself, and never prompted;
+Little L, _he_ prompted, he fairly shouted--yes, to be sure he did--”
+
+A tender smile passed over the face of the old man.
+
+“If any one on the front form was called upon and did not know the
+answer--Little L hissed right across all the forms what he ought to
+say: when it came the turn of the back benches little L spoke the answer
+half-aloud to himself.
+
+“There was there an old professor from whom we took Latin. During nearly
+every lesson he would stop short in the middle of the class; ‘L No.
+II,’ he would say, ‘you are prompting again! And that, too, in a most
+shameless fashion. Have a care, L No. II, next time I will make an
+example of you. I say it to you now for the last time!”
+
+The old colonel laughed to himself. “But it always remained the next to
+last time, and the example was never made. For though Little L was no
+model boy, more often quite the contrary, he was loved by both teachers
+and officers as well--but how indeed could it have been otherwise? He
+was always in high spirits, as if receiving a new present every day,
+yet nothing ever got sent to him, for the father of the two was in
+desperately poor circumstances, a major in some infantry regiment or
+other, and the boys received hardly a groschen (2.4 cents) for pocket
+money. And always as if just peeled out of the egg, so fresh,--without
+and within--eh, eh, altogether--”
+
+Here the colonel paused, as if searching for an expression that would
+contain the whole of his love for this former little comrade.
+
+“As if Nature had been for once in a proudly good-humor,” he said, “and
+had stood that little follow upright on his feet and cried: ‘There you
+have him!’
+
+“Now this was to be observed,” he continued, “that just so much as the
+brothers differed, one from the other, the more they seemed to cling
+to each other. In Big L, indeed, one did not notice it so much; he was
+always sullen and displayed no feeling; but Little L could never conceal
+anything. And because Little L felt conscious of this, how much better
+he himself was treated by the other cadets, it made him sorry for his
+brother. When we took our walks around the courtyard, then one could see
+how Little L would look at his brother from time to time, to see if he,
+too, had some one to walk with. That he prompted his brother in class
+and allowed him to copy from himself when sight-exercises were dictated
+was all a matter of course; but he also took care that no one teased
+his brother, and when he observed him quietly from the side, as he often
+did, without drawing his brother’s attention to it, then his little face
+was quite noticeably sad, almost as if he were a great care to him--”
+
+The old man pulled hard at his pipe. “All that I put together for myself
+afterward,” said he, “when everything happened that was to happen; he
+knew at the time much better than we did how matters stood with Big L,
+and what was his brother’s character.
+
+“This was, of course, understood among the cadets, and it helped Big L
+none the more, for he remained disliked after it as before, yet it made
+Little L all the more popular, and he was generally called ‘Brother
+Love.’
+
+“Now the two lived together in one room, and Little L, as I said, was
+very clean and neat; the big one, on the contrary, was very slovenly.
+And so Little L fairly made himself servant to his brother, and it
+turned out that he even cleaned the brass buttons on his uniform for
+him, and just before the ranks formed for roll-call would place himself,
+with clothes-brush in hand, in front of his brother, and once more
+regularly brush and scrub him--especially on those days when the ‘cross
+lieutenant’ was on duty and received roll-call.
+
+“Well, in the morning the cadets had to go down into the court for
+roll-call, and there the officer on duty went up and down between the
+lines and inspected their uniforms to see if they were in order.
+
+“And when the ‘cross lieutenant’ attended to this, then there reigned
+the most woful anxiety throughout the company, for he always found
+something. He would go behind the cadets and flip at their coats with
+his finger to make the dust fly, and if none came, then he would lift
+their coat-pockets and snap at them, and so, beat our coats as much as
+we would, there was sure to be left some dust lying on them, and as soon
+as the ‘cross lieutenant’ saw it, he would sing out in a voice like that
+of an old bleating ram: ‘Write him down for Sunday report,’ and then
+Sunday’s day off might go to the devil, and then that got to be a very
+serious matter.”
+
+The old colonel paused, took a vigorous swallow of wine, and with the
+palm of his hand squeezed the beard from his upper lip into his mouth
+and sucked off the wine drops that sparkled on the hair. Recollection of
+the “cross lieutenant” made him plainly furious.
+
+“When one considers what sort of meanness it takes to so deprive a poor
+little fellow of the Sunday holiday he has been hugging for a whole
+week, and all for a trifle--bah! it’s downright--whenever I have seen
+any one annoying my men--in later days that sort of thing didn’t happen
+in my regiment; they knew this, that I was there and would not tolerate
+it.--To be rough at times, ay, even to the extreme if necessary, to
+throw one into the guard-house, that does no harm--: but to nag--for
+that it takes a mean skunk!”
+
+“Very true!” observed the waiter from the back part of the room, and
+thus made it known that he was following the colonel’s story.
+
+The old man calmed himself and went on with his story.
+
+“Things went on this way for a year, and then came the time for
+examinations, always a very special occasion.
+
+“The Primaners took their ensign’s examination, and the Selektaners,
+who, as I have said, Were called ‘Onions,’ the officer’s examination,
+and as fast as any had passed the examination, they were dismissed
+from the cadet corps and sent home, and it came about that the second
+classmen, or Sekundaner, who were to be promoted to first class, still
+remained Sekundaner for a time.
+
+“Well, this state of affairs lasted until the new Sekundaner entered
+from the preparatory school and the newly dubbed ‘Onions’ returned, and
+then once more the wheelbarrow trudged along its accustomed way. But in
+the meantime a kind of disorder prevailed, more especially just after
+the last of the Primaners had left--they were examined in sections, you
+know, and then despatched, after which everything went pretty much at
+sixes and sevens.
+
+“There was now in the dormitory where the two brothers lived a certain
+Primaner, a ‘swell,’ as he was called by the cadets, and because he had
+made up his mind, as soon as he should pass the examination and breathe
+the fresh air again, to conduct himself like a fine gentleman, he had
+had made for himself, instead of a sword-belt like those the cadets
+procured from the institution and wore, a special patent-leather belt of
+his own, thinner and apparently finer than the ordinary regulation belt.
+He was able to afford this much, you see, for he had money sent to him
+from home. He had displayed this belt about everywhere, for he was
+inordinately proud of it, and the other cadets admired it.
+
+“Now as the day arrived for the Primaner to pack together his scattered
+belongings in order to go home, he looked to buckle on his fine
+belt--and all at once the thing was missing.
+
+“A great to-do followed; search was made everywhere; the belt was not to
+be found. The Primaner had not locked it in his wardrobe, but had put it
+with his helmet in the dormitory behind the curtain where the helmets of
+the other cadets lay openly--and from there it had disappeared.
+
+“It could not possibly have disappeared in any other way;--some one must
+have taken it.
+
+“But who?
+
+“First they thought of the old servant who was accustomed to blacken the
+boots of the cadets, and keep the dormitory in order--but he was an old
+trusty non-commissioned officer, who had never during the course of his
+long life allowed himself to be guilty of the least irregularity.
+
+“It surely could not be one of the cadets? But who could possibly think
+such a thing? So the matter remained a mystery, and truly an unpleasant
+one. The Primaner swore and scolded because he must now leave wearing
+the ordinary institution belt; the other cadets in the room were
+altogether silent and depressed; they had at once unlocked all their
+wardrobes and offered to let the Primaner search them, but he had merely
+replied: ‘That’s nonsense, of course; who could think of such a thing?’
+
+“And now something remarkable happened, and caused more sensation than
+all that went before; all at once the Primaner got back the belt.
+
+“He had just left his room with his portmanteau in his hand, and had
+reached the stairs, when he was hastily called from behind, and as
+he turned about, Little L came running up, holding something in his
+hand--it was the Primaner’s belt.
+
+“Two others happened to be passing at the time, and they afterward told
+how deathly pale Little L was, and how every member of his body was
+literally shaking. He had whispered something into the ear of the
+Primaner, and the two had exchanged all quietly a couple of words, and
+then the Primaner affectionately stroked the other’s head, took off his
+regulation belt, buckled on the fine one and was gone; he had handed
+the regulation belt over to Little L to carry back. Naturally the story
+could now no longer be concealed, and it all came out accordingly.
+
+“A new assignment of rooms was ordered; Big L was transferred; and just
+at the time all this was taking place, he had completed his removal to
+the new quarters.
+
+“Afterward it occurred to the cadets that he had kept strangely quiet
+about the whole affair--but one always hears the grass growing after it
+has grown. So much, however, was certain; he had allowed no one to help
+him, and when Big L put his hands to the work, he became quite rough
+toward his little brother. But Little L, ready to help as he always was,
+did not allow himself to be deterred by this, and as he was taking out
+of his brother’s locker the gymnasium drill jacket that was lying neatly
+folded together, he felt all at once something hard within--and it was
+the belt of the Primaner.
+
+“What the brothers said to each other at the moment, or whether they
+spoke at all, no one has ever learned; for Little L had still so much
+presence of mind that he went noiselessly from the room.
+
+“But hardly was he out of the door and in the corridor, when he threw
+the jacket on the ground, and without once thinking of what might be
+made out of the affair, he ran up behind the Primaner with the belt.
+
+“But now, of course, it could no longer be helped; in five minutes the
+story was the property of the whole company.
+
+“Big L had allowed himself to be driven by the devil and had become
+light-fingered. Half an hour later it was whispered softly from room to
+room: ‘To-night, when the lamps are turned out, general consultation in
+the company hall!’
+
+“In every company quarters, you must know, there was a larger room,
+where marks were given out, and certain public actions proceeded with,
+in what was called the company hall.
+
+“So that evening, when the lamps were out, and everything was quite
+dark, there was a general movement from all the rooms, through the
+corridor; not a door ventured to slam, all were in stocking feet, for
+the captain and the officers still knew nothing and were allowed to know
+nothing of the meeting, else we would have brought a storm about our
+ears.
+
+“As we came to the door of the company hall, there stood near the door
+against the wall one as white as the plaster on the wall--it was Little
+L. At the same moment a couple took him by the hands. ‘Little L can
+come in with us,’ they said; ‘he is not to blame.’ Only one of them all
+wished to oppose this; he was a long, big fellow--he was called--name
+of no consequence--well, then, he was called K. But he was overruled at
+once; Little L was taken in with us, a couple of tallow candles were lit
+and placed on the table, and now the consultation began.”
+
+The colonel’s glass was empty again. I filled it for him, and he took
+a long swallow. “Over all this,” he went on, “one can laugh now if one
+wills; but this much I can say for us, we were not in a laughing mood,
+but altogether dismal. A cadet a rascal--to us that was something
+incomprehensible. All faces were pale, all speaking was but half aloud.
+Ordinarily it was considered the most despicable piece of meanness if
+one cadet reported another to the authorities--but when a cadet had done
+such a thing as to steal, then he was for us no longer a cadet, and it
+was for this reason that the consultation was being held, whether we
+ought to report to the captain what Big L had done.
+
+“Long K was the first to speak. He declared that we ought to go at
+once to the captain and tell him everything, for at such meanness all
+consideration ceases. Now Long K was the biggest and strongest boy
+in the company; his words, therefore, made a marked impression, and
+besides, we were all of his opinion at bottom.
+
+“No one knew anything to object to this, and so there fell a general
+silence. All at once, however, the circle that had formed around the
+table opened and Little L, who had till now been flattening himself
+against the farthest corner of the room, came forward into the centre.
+His arms hung limp at the side of his body, and his face he kept lowered
+to the ground; one saw that he wished to say something, but could not
+find the courage.
+
+“Long K was again laying down the law. ‘L No. II,’ said he, ‘has no
+right to speak here.’
+
+“But this time he was not so fortunate. He had always been hostile to
+the two, no one quite knew why, especially Little L. Moreover, he
+was not a bit popular, for as such youngsters have once and for all a
+tremendously fine instinct, they may have felt that in this long gawk
+lay hidden a perfectly mean, cowardly, wretched spirit. He was one of
+those who never venture to attack their equals in size, but bully the
+smaller and weaker ones.
+
+“At that broke out a whispering on all sides: ‘Little L _shall_ speak!
+All the more reason for him to speak.’
+
+“As the little fellow, who was still standing there, ever motionless
+and rigid, heard how his comrades were taking his part, suddenly the
+big tears rolled down his cheeks; he doubled his two little fists and
+screwed them into his eyes and sobbed so heart-breakingly that his whole
+body shook from top to bottom and he could not utter a word.
+
+“One of them went up to him and patted him on the back.
+
+“‘Take it easy,’ said he; ‘what is it you wish to say?’
+
+“Little L still kept on sobbing.
+
+“‘If--he is shown up--’ he then broke out at long intervals--‘he will be
+dismissed from the corps--and then what will become of him?’
+
+“There was silence everywhere; we knew that the young one was perfectly
+right, and that such would be the consequence if we reported him. Added
+to this we also knew that the father was poor, and involuntarily each
+thought of what his own father would say if he should learn the same of
+his son.
+
+“‘But you must see yourself/ continued the cadet to Little L, ‘that your
+brother has done a very contemptible thing and deserves punishment for
+it.’
+
+“Little L nodded silently; his feelings were entirely with those who
+were censuring his brother. The cadet reflected a moment, then he turned
+to the others.
+
+“‘I make a proposition,’ said he; ‘and if it be accepted we will not
+disgrace L No. I for life. We will prove on his body whether he has any
+honorable feelings left. L No. I. himself shall choose whether he wishes
+us to report him or whether we shall keep the matter to ourselves cudgel
+him thoroughly for it, and then let the affair be buried.’
+
+“That was an admirable way out. All agreed eagerly.
+
+“The cadet laid his hand on Little L’s shoulder. ‘Go along, then,’ said
+he, ‘and call your brother here.’
+
+“Little L dried his tears and nodded his head quickly--then he was out
+of the door and a moment after was back again, bringing his brother with
+him.
+
+“Big L ventured to look at no one; like an ox that has been felled on
+the forehead, he stood before his comrades. Little L stood behind him,
+and never once did his eyes leave his brother’s slightest movement.
+
+“The cadet who had made the foregoing proposition began the trial of L
+No. I.
+
+“‘Does he admit that he took the belt?’
+
+“‘He admits it.’
+
+“‘Does he feel that he has done something that has made him absolutely
+unworthy of being a cadet any longer?’
+
+“‘He feels it.’
+
+“‘Does he choose that we report him to the captain or that we thrash him
+soundly and that the matter shall then be buried?’
+
+“‘He prefers to be soundly thrashed.’
+
+“A sigh of relief went through the whole hall.
+
+“It was determined to finish the matter at once then and there.
+
+“One of the boys was sent out to fetch a rattan, such as we used for
+beating our clothes.
+
+“While he was gone we tried to induce Little L to leave the hall, so
+that he should not be present at the execution.
+
+“But he shook his head silently; he wished to remain on hand.
+
+“As soon as the rattan came, Big L was made to lie face down on the
+table, two cadets seized his hands and drew him forward, two others
+took him by the feet so that his body lay stretched out lengthwise. The
+tallow candles were taken from the table and lifted up high, and the
+whole affair had an absolutely gruesome look.
+
+“Long K, because he was the strongest, was to perform the execution; he
+took the rattan in his hand, stepped to one side, and with the force
+of his whole body let the cane come whistling down on to Big L, who was
+clothed only in drill jacket and trousers.
+
+“The young fellow fairly rose under the fearful blow and would have
+cried out; but in a second Little L rushed up to him, took his head in
+both hands and smothered it against himself.
+
+“‘Don’t scream,’ he whispered to him; ‘don’t scream, else the whole
+affair will get out!’
+
+“Big L swallowed down the cry and choked and groaned to himself.
+
+“Long K again lifted up the cane, and a second swish resounded through
+the hall.
+
+“The body of the culprit actually writhed on the table, so that the
+cadets were scarcely able to hold him down by his hands and feet. Little
+L had wrapped both arms around the head of his brother, and was crushing
+it with convulsive force against himself. His eyes were wide open, his
+face like the plaster on the wall, his whole body was quivering.
+
+“Throughout the hall was a stillness like death, so that one could only
+hear the wheezing and puffing of the victim whom the little brother was
+smothering against his breast.
+
+“All eyes were hanging on the little fellow; we all had a feeling that
+we could not look on at it any longer.
+
+“When, therefore, the third blow had fallen and the whole performance
+repeated itself just as before, a general excited whisper followed:
+‘Now, it is enough--strike no more!’
+
+“Long K, who had become quite red from the exertion, was raising his
+arm again for the fourth blow, but with one accord, three or four threw
+themselves between him and Big L, tore the rattan from his grasp, and
+thrust him back.
+
+“The execution was at an end.
+
+“The cadet aforesaid raised his voice once more, but only half aloud.
+
+“‘Now, the affair is over with and buried,’ said he, ‘let each one
+give his hand to L No. I., and let him that breathes even a word of the
+matter be accounted a rascal.’
+
+“A general ‘Yes, yes,’ showed that he had spoken entirely in accord with
+the mind of the others. They stepped up to Big L and stretched out their
+hands to him, but then, as at a word of command, they threw themselves
+upon Little L. There formed a regular knot about the lad, first one
+and then another wished to grasp him by the hand and shake it. Those
+standing at the back stretched out their hands ‘way across those in
+front, some even climbed on to the table to get at him; they stroked
+his head, patted him on the shoulder, and with it all was a general
+whispering: ‘Little L, you glorious rascal, you superb Little L.’”
+
+The old colonel lifted his glass to his mouth--it was as if he were
+forcing something down behind it. When he set it down again, he drew a
+deep sigh from the bottom of his heart.
+
+“Boys like that,” said he, “they have instinct--instinct and sentiment.
+
+“The lights were turned out, all stole hushed through the corridor back
+to their rooms. Five minutes later every boy was lying in his bed, and
+the affair was ended.
+
+“The captain and the other officers had heard not a sound of the whole
+matter.
+
+“The affair was ended”--the voice of the speaker grew thick; he had
+buried both hands in his trousers’ pockets and was gazing before him
+through the fumes of the smoking cigar.
+
+“So we thought that night, as we lay in bed.--Did Little L sleep that
+night? In the days following, when we assembled in class, it did not
+seem so. Before, it had been as if an imp were sitting in the place
+where the lad sat, and, like a rooster, had crowed it over the whole
+class--now it was as if there were a void in the place--so still and
+pale he sat in his place.
+
+“As when a man flicks the dust from the wings of a butterfly--so was it
+with the little lad--I can not describe it otherwise.
+
+“On afternoons one always saw him now walking with his brother. He may
+have felt that Big L would now find less companionship than ever among
+the others--so he provided company for him. And there the two went,
+then, arm in arm, always around about the Karreehof and across the court
+with the trees in it, one as well as the other with head bent to the
+ground, so that one scarcely saw that they ever spoke a word.”
+
+Again there came a pause in the narrative, again I had to fill the empty
+glass of the colonel, who smoked his cigar faster and faster.
+
+“But all this,” he continued, “would perhaps have worn itself out in
+course of time and everything have gone on as before--but for people!”
+
+He laid his clenched fist on the table.
+
+“There are people,” said he, scowling, “who are like the poisonous weed
+in the field, at which beasts nibble themselves to death. With such
+people the rest poison themselves!
+
+“So, then, one day we were having lessons in physics. The teacher was
+showing us experiments on the electric machine, and an electric shock
+was to be passed through the whole class.
+
+“To this end each one of us had to give his hand to his neighbor, so as
+to complete the circuit.
+
+“As now Big L, who was sitting next to Long K, held out his hand to him,
+the lubber made a grimace as if he were about to touch a toad and drew
+back his hand.
+
+“Big L quietly shrank into himself and sat there as if covered with
+shame. But at the same instant Little L is up and out of his place, over
+to his brother’s side, at whose place, next to Long K, he seats himself,
+whose hand he grips and smashes with all the force of his body against
+the wooden form, so that the long gawk cries out with pain.
+
+“Then he grabbed Little L by the neck and the two now began regularly to
+fight in the middle of class.
+
+“The teacher, who had been tinkering all this time at his machine, now
+rushed up with coat-tails flying.
+
+“‘Now! Now! Now!’ he cried.
+
+“He was, you must know, an old man for whom we had not exactly a great
+respect.
+
+“The two were so interlocked that they did not break away, even though
+the professor was standing directly in front of them.
+
+“‘What disgraceful conduct!’ cried the professor. ‘What disgraceful
+conduct! Will you separate at once!’
+
+“Long K made a face as if he were about to cry.
+
+“‘L No. II began it,’ he said, ‘though I did nothing at all to provoke
+him.’
+
+“Little L stood straight up in his place--for we always had to stand
+when a professor spoke to us--big drops of perspiration coursed slowly
+down either cheek; he said not a word; he had bitten his teeth together
+so hard that one could see the muscles of his jaw through the thin
+cheeks. And as he heard what Long K said a smile passed over his face--I
+have never seen anything like it.
+
+“The old professor expatiated at some length in beautiful set phrases
+over such disgraceful behavior, spoke of the ‘utter depths of abysmal
+bestiality, which such conduct betrayed’--we let him talk on; our
+thoughts were with Little L and Long K.
+
+“And scarcely was the lesson at an end and the professor out of the
+door, when from the back a book came flying through the air the whole
+length of the class straight at the skull of Long K. And as he turned
+angrily toward the aggressor, from the other side he received another
+book on his head, and now there broke out a general howling: ‘Knock him
+down! Knock him down!’ The whole class sprang up over tables and benches
+and there was a rush for Long K, whose hide was now so thoroughly tanned
+that it fairly smoked.”
+
+The old colonel, pleased, smiled grimly to himself and contemplated his
+hand as it still lay with fist doubled on the table.
+
+“I helped,” said he, “and with hearty good-will--I can tell you.”
+
+It was as if his hand had forgotten that it had grown fifty years older;
+as the fingers closed convulsively one could see that it was in spirit
+once again pummeling Long K.
+
+“But as people must belong once and forever to their own kind,”
+ he continued his narrative, “so this Long K had to be naturally a
+revengeful, spiteful, malicious, _canaille_. He would much rather have
+gone to the captain and resentfully told him everything, but in our
+presence he did not dare; for that he was too cowardly.
+
+“But that he had received a thrashing before the whole class, and that
+Little L was to blame for it, for that he did not forgive Little L.
+
+“One afternoon, then, as recreation hour came round again, the cadets
+went walking in the courts; the two brothers, as usual, by themselves;
+Long K linked arm in arm with two others.
+
+“To get from the Karreehof to the other court where the trees were, one
+had to pass under one of the wings of the main building, and it was
+a rule that the cadets must not pass through arm in arm, so as not to
+obstruct the passageway.
+
+“On this particular afternoon, as ill-luck would have it, Long K, as he
+was about to pass through with his two chums from the Karreehof to the
+other court, met the two brothers at the corridor, and they, deep in
+their thoughts, had forgotten to let go of one another.
+
+“Long K, although the affair was no concern of his, when he saw this
+stood still, opened his eyes wide and his mouth still wider, and called
+out to the two: ‘What does this mean,’ said he, ‘that you go through
+here arm in arm? Do you intend to block the way for honest people, you
+set of thieves?’”
+
+Here the colonel interrupted himself.
+
+“That is now fifty years ago,” said he, “and more--but I remember it as
+if it had happened yesterday.
+
+“I was just going with two others from the Karreehof, and suddenly we
+heard a scream come from the corridor--I can not describe at all how it
+sounded--when a tiger or other wild beast breaks loose from his cage and
+throws himself on some one, then, I think, one would hear something like
+it.
+
+“It was so horrible that we three let our arms drop and stood there
+quite paralyzed. And not only we, but everything in the Karreehof
+stopped and suddenly grew quiet. And then everything that had two legs
+to run with kept rushing up at full speed toward the corridor, so that
+it fairly swarmed and thickened black around the corridor. I, naturally,
+with the rest--and what I saw there--
+
+“Little L had climbed on to Long K like a wildcat--nothing else--and
+with his left hand hanging on by the latter’s collar so that the tall
+gawk was half-choked, with his right fist he kept up a crack--crack--and
+crack right in the middle of Long K’s face, wherever it happened
+to strike, so that the blood was pouring from Long K’s nose like a
+waterfall.
+
+“Now from the other court came the officer who was on duty and broke
+his way through the cadets. ‘L No. II, will you leave off at once!’ he
+thundered--for he was a man tall as a tree and had a voice that could be
+heard from one end of the Academy to the other, and we had a wholesome
+respect for him.
+
+“But Little L neither heard nor saw, but kept on belaboring Long K
+in the face still more, and with it came again and again that fearful
+uncanny shriek that thrilled through us all, marrow and bone.
+
+“When the officer saw that he-took hold himself, gripped the little
+fellow by both shoulders, and by main force tore him away from Long K.
+
+“As soon as he stood upon his feet, however, Little L rolled up the
+whites of his eyes, fell his full length to the earth, and writhed on
+the ground in a convulsion.
+
+“We had never yet seen anything like it, and were shocked and, stared at
+it in absolute terror.
+
+“But the officer, who had been bending down over him, now straightened
+himself: ‘The lad certainly has a most serious convulsion,’ said he.
+‘Forward, two take hold of his feet’--he himself lifted him under the
+arms--‘over to the infirmary!’
+
+“And so they bore Little L over to the infirmary.
+
+“While they were carrying him there we went up to Big L to learn just
+what had happened, and from Big L and the other two who had been with
+Long K we then heard the whole story.
+
+“Long K was standing there like a whipped dog and wiping the blood from
+his nose, and had it not been for this nothing would have saved him from
+receiving another murderous thrashing. But now all turned silently
+away from him, no one ever spoke another word to him; he made himself a
+social outcast.”
+
+The top of the table resounded as the old colonel struck it with his
+fist.
+
+“How long the others kept him in Coventry,” said he, “I know not. I sat
+in class with him for a whole year longer and spoke never a single word
+more to him. We entered the army at the same time as ensigns; I did
+not give him my hand at parting; do not know whether he has become an
+officer; have never looked for his name in the army register; don’t know
+whether he has fallen in one of the wars, whether he still lives or is
+dead--for me he was no more, is no more--the only thing I regret is that
+the person ever came into my life at all and that I can not root out the
+remembrance of him forever, like a weed one flings into the oven!
+
+“The next morning came bad news from the infirmary: Little L was lying
+unconscious in a burning, nervous fever. In the afternoon his older
+brother was called in, but the little fellow no longer recognized him.
+
+“And in the evening, as we all sat at supper in the big common
+dining-hall, a rumor came--like a great black bird with muffled beat of
+wings it passed through the hall--that Little L was dead.
+
+“As we came back from the dining-hall into company quarters, our captain
+was standing at the door of the company hall; we were made to go in, and
+there the captain announced to us that our little comrade, L No. II, had
+fallen asleep that night, never to wake again.
+
+“The captain was a very good man--he fell in 1866, a brave hero--he
+loved his cadets, and as he gave us the news, he had to wipe the tears
+from his beard. Then he ordered us all to fold our hands; one of us had
+to step forward and before all say ‘Our Father’ out loud--”
+
+The colonel bowed his head.
+
+“Then for the first time,” said he, “I felt how really beautiful is the
+Lord’s Prayer.
+
+“And so, the next afternoon, the door that led from the infirmary to the
+outdoor gymnasium opened, the hateful, ominous door.
+
+“We were made to step down into the court of the infirmary; we were to
+see once more our dead comrade.
+
+“Our steps shuffled with a dull and heavy sound as we were marched over
+there; no one spoke a word; one heard only a heavy breathing.
+
+“And there lay little L, poor little L!
+
+“In his white little shirt he lay there, his hands folded on his breast,
+his golden locks curled about his forehead, which was white like wax;
+the cheeks so sunken that the beautiful, delicate little nose projected
+quite far--and in his face--the expression--”
+
+The old colonel was silent, the breath came choking from his bosom.
+
+“I have grown to be an old man,” he went on falteringly--“I have seen
+men lying on the field of battle--men on whose faces stood written
+distress and despair--such heart sorrow as I saw in the face of this
+child I have never seen before or since--never--never--”
+
+A deep stillness took possession of the wine-room where we were sitting.
+As the old colonel became silent and spoke no word more, the waiter rose
+softly from his corner and lit the gas-jet that hung over our heads; it
+had grown quite dark.
+
+I took up the wine bottle once more, but it was now almost empty--just
+one tear still crept slowly out--one last drop of the good blood.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Good Blood, by Ernst Von Wildenbruch
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOOD BLOOD ***
+
+***** This file should be named 23223-0.txt or 23223-0.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/2/2/23223/
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project
+Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation”
+ or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project
+Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right
+of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’ WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.
+
+The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation’s web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.